new-b here, doing first oil change

[renglez]

hey, can anyone recommend an oil brand/viscosity for a '00 zx9r? also, bike will 'backfire' (loud BANG!) on start up. it will only do it once, then run great..any ideas of the cause? thanks.

[mad]

1. Check your owner's manual. Otherwise I pretty much guarantee it says use a 10w-40 motorcycle specific oil. Dino, synthetic, or combo...your choice.

2. Unknown...too many variables. I'd probably have the mixture checked (new map maybe).

[Shifty1]

I always use Spectro 4 conventional oil. 10w-40. If it's really hot in SF, you may want to go with something a little thicker. Whatever you use, make sure it's motorcycle specific.

[renglez]

thanks for the help. i dont know what the owners manual says 'cause it was missing when i bought the bike...guess thats what i get for buying a used bike off c-list lol. again, thanks for the help.

[Sweet_Bean]

i'm in the same boat as you. Doing my first oil change tomorrow and wondering about the oil.

[Hammerhead]

Any 10W-40 motorcycle-specific oil will do. Synthetic is more expensive but yeilds better protection and longer change intervals.

[On1Wheel]

I don't use motorcycle-specific oil and never have in either street bike I've owned. The first went over 30,000 miles with absolutely no problems and the one I have right now has about 20,000. I use full synthetic Castrol motor oil. Now you may let me have it about how bad it is for my clutch and all that jazz.

[Sweet_Bean]

I just used kawasaki's four stroke oil. 20w50 because it's 106 degrees outside! Bikes running smoooooth. New tires and plugs probably helped out too. "them tires ain't cheap" ~bow wow

[Hammerhead]

Originally Posted by On1Wheel

I don't use motorcycle-specific oil and never have in either street bike I've owned. The first went over 30,000 miles with absolutely no problems and the one I have right now has about 20,000. I use full synthetic Castrol motor oil. Now you may let me have it about how bad it is for my clutch and all that jazz.

If the synthetic oil you're using doesn't have mileage-enhancing friction modifiers (like molybdenum disulfide) your clutch won't be harmed by running it. Motorcycle oils have anti-shear additives to keep the gnashing of the gears from reducing viscosity prematurely. You can avoid this also by frequent oil changing. If you do a cost analysis of using different types of oils you won't find a hell of a lot of difference if you adhere to recommended change intervals. Motorcycle oil (4t) will last longer than car oil. Synthetic oil will last longer than dino. Pay now or pay later. If you can find a dino car oil with no friction modifiers, you can use it, but it will only have a useable life of around 25% of the 4T synthetic that costs 4 times as much. The only difference is the cost of changing and filters, unless you re-use them.

[Zippo475]

Originally Posted by Hammerhead

Any 10W-40 motorcycle-specific oil will do. Synthetic is more expensive but yeilds better protection and longer change intervals.

I paid $14 per L of Respol full synthetic 4T racing oil

[anhbaole]

Originally Posted by Hammerhead

Any 10W-40 motorcycle-specific oil will do. Synthetic is more expensive but yeilds better protection and longer change intervals.

what would be the change interval? is it brand specific?

[Hammerhead]

I go 6000 between changes on Mobil 1 4T. If I were using a petroleum oil, I'd change at 3000.

[anhbaole]

Originally Posted by Hammerhead

I go 6000 between changes on Mobil 1 4T. If I were using a petroleum oil, I'd change at 3000.

thanks

[anhbaole]

Just looking manual for zx-6r and oil change recommended every year or at 600, 7500, 15000, 24000, 30000. it does not make sense for the interval after 600. it seems too long in between unless i misread the chart. anyone have any ideas?

[mad]

Originally Posted by anhbaole

Just looking manual for zx-6r and oil change recommended every year or at 600, 7500, 15000, 24000, 30000. it does not make sense for the interval after 600. it seems too long in between unless i misread the chart. anyone have any ideas?

Kawasaki recommends roughly every 7500 miles. Do what you like/makes you feel good if you want to do it more or less often. Every manufacturer is different. IIRC, Porsche now recommends every 10,000 miles, maybe 15,000, I just can't remember for sure. There are still those that say every 3,000 and others that change oil every few hundred. Some bikes/cars come from the factory with full synthetic. Others claim not to go synthetic until after break in. As for 600, it's probably the most important change of all. Flushes out any "extra" stuff that shakes loose, wears in, after assembly and initial operating interval.

[anhbaole]

Originally Posted by mad

Kawasaki recommends roughly every 7500 miles. Do what you like/makes you feel good if you want to do it more or less often. Every manufacturer is different. IIRC, Porsche now recommends every 10,000 miles, maybe 15,000, I just can't remember for sure. There are still those that say every 3,000 and others that change oil every few hundred. Some bikes/cars come from the factory with full synthetic. Others claim not to go synthetic until after break in. As for 600, it's probably the most important change of all. Flushes out any "extra" stuff that shakes loose, wears in, after assembly and initial operating interval.

thanks for the info.

[dobiqwolf]

I am going to hijack this thread as i will do my first oil change.
how much oil do i need, the manual says 1 gallon(4 litres) for 05 636?

[Hammerhead]

Originally Posted by dobiqwolf

I am going to hijack this thread as i will do my first oil change.
how much oil do i need, the manual says 1 gallon(4 litres) for 05 636?

Does your machine have a sight glass or dipstick? Much better to go by those than a specific amount.

[Hammerhead]

Originally Posted by mad

Kawasaki recommends roughly every 7500 miles. Do what you like/makes you feel good if you want to do it more or less often. Every manufacturer is different. IIRC, Porsche now recommends every 10,000 miles, maybe 15,000, I just can't remember for sure. There are still those that say every 3,000 and others that change oil every few hundred. Some bikes/cars come from the factory with full synthetic. Others claim not to go synthetic until after break in. As for 600, it's probably the most important change of all. Flushes out any "extra" stuff that shakes loose, wears in, after assembly and initial operating interval.

Porsche also calls for full synthetic oil, although I forget which brand they come with from new.

[6spdg37s]

Originally Posted by Hammerhead

Does your machine have a sight glass or dipstick? Much better to go by those than a specific amount.

the 05 636 has sight glass ... im about to do my first oil change on mine too 9k miles (used bike) gonna go with motol synthetic i believe